SENEGAL, From Glory to Dismay!

For a long time, Senegal has been hailed as a peace hub in West Africa. Senegal enjoyed this reputation thanks to a well entrenched democratic system and functioning institutions, which contrasted with the political and social turmoil that was exacerbated by the recurrent and ubiquitous military coups that took place in the sub region. As explained in our previous piece, entitled “Military Coups and the Democracy Dilemma in West Africa,” Senegal is, along with Cape Verde, the only other West African country not to have undergone a military coup. Regular elections have been organized in the country and they have, for the most part, been arguably transparent. But it is safe to say that real political change took place in Senegal in 2000, as power was not handed over to Abdoulaye Wade by his predecessor such as in the case of Leopold Sedar Senghor and Abdou Diouf, but through the polls. In March 2000, Wade became Senegal’s third President since independence and his election was welcome as a godsend by millions of Senegalese, who bore the brunt of poverty and expected a momentous qualitative change in their social conditions. Wade’s election was, therefore, very symbolical, in that it also marked the end of 40 years of a socialist regime. Abdoulaye Wade, a liberal by political obedience brought with him hope and was viewed as the embodiment of perseverance for having fought 25 years for political change to happen democratically in Senegal. But very soon, the Senegalese people would become disenchanted with Wade who failed by all standards to deliver on many of his campaign promises and thus heavily encumbered the potential of his long struggle to power. During his 8 years as incumbent, Wade has changed the country’s constitution several times with the support of his party-controlled national assembly, which is prompt to service his own selfish interest. Today Senegal has become a country where ills such as corruption, bad governance, and lack of transparency in the management of public resources have become daily reality. Journalists are threatened, imprisoned, and intimidated, while citizens are deprived of their right to protest. Such practices seriously undermine freedom of the press and infringe on citizens’ rights. Faced with the increasing cost of commodities, which takes a big toll on the average citizen’s purchasing power, Senegalese citizens are in dismay. The results of the recent local elections, which consecrated the victory of the opposition coalitions in some major cities such as Dakar, Thiès and Saint Louis, are indicative of the Senegalese people’s dissatisfaction with Wade’s management of the country. These local elections have proven Senegal’s grandeur as a nation and the Senegalese citizens’ capacity to respond adequately, despite the tag of “lameness” that some people do not hesitate to attach to Senegalese. Wade seems to have understood the message, or so he says. Let us hope that his awakening will translate into better living conditions for Senegalese. I think we deserve it.

Khaita